To keep up with the rapidly evolving technology landscape, today’s forward-thinking business leaders are seeking new tools and methods that will enable them to build their own custom applications and address their unique business needs. One powerful approach that is gaining momentum in the software development industry as it helps professional developers and coders seamlessly design, develop, and deploy business applications is the no-code/low-code (NCLC) platform.
But what exactly is a no-code/low-code (NCLC) platform and how does this new solution empower modern developers and make businesses more flexible and agile in the face of increasing digitization?
SourceForge recently caught up with George Mashini, the Chief Technology Officer at Quick Base, to discuss No-Code/Low-Code (NCLC) business benefits, trends, and myths. Mashini also shares how Quick Base’s award-winning business application building platform helps professional coders and software developers become more efficient, informed, and productive.
Q: Please share with us a brief overview of your company (year established, founders, size, etc.)?
A: Quick Base is one of the first cloud-based platforms of its kind. Our mission is to empower people closest to the work they do to take control of their processes. We enable our customers to customize their own applications without getting buried in the technical details. Our history is rooted in the Boston area. Quick Base actually started locally by MIT grads, Joe Rice, Jim Salwm, and Claude von Roesgen in 1999. They founded a company called Turning Mill Software and created a product called oneBase that was acquired a couple years later by Intuit. What’s remarkable is the foresight of its creators: the original oneBase product was built from the start with a cloud-based multi-tenant architecture. In 1999, this was way ahead of its time!
Intuit operated Quick Base pretty much as a stand-alone business unit for a decade. A few years ago, Intuit was doing a strategic review of its portfolio and spinning out businesses that were not fully aligned with its focus around small business and consumers. While Quick Base had many small business customers, it also served some of the largest companies in the world. As a result, Intuit determined to spin out Quick Base as an independent entity, which a private equity firm called Welsh, Carson, Anderson, and Stowe (WCAS) purchased in 2016.
Earlier this month, Vista Equity Partners bought a majority stake in Quick Base. Currently, we have more than 300 employees and over 5,400 customers who continue to build applications that enable and grow their organizations to work better and smarter.
Q: What expertise do you provide and who are your current customers?
George Mashini, the Chief Technology Officer at Quick Base
A: Quick Base allows builders to create and customize their own business applications to best suit their needs and achieve higher levels of productivity. No coding is required, which has allowed the product to be used by an array of individuals in different fields and positions ranging from operations managers to business analysts to IT specialists.
Our customers range from small businesses to some of the largest enterprises in the world – including half of the Fortune 100. They use Quick Base to automate their process in a way that is specialized for very specific needs. A Quick Base app looks wildly different depending on who created it and with our involvement in almost all industries such as tech, healthcare, business, entertainment, and nonprofit organizations – you can say we’ve seen it all. Current customers include Google, Southwest, American Transplant Foundation, Sprint, and FedEx to name a few.
Q: The industry is abuzz with stories on how no-code/low-code (NCLC) platforms are redefining app development. For our readers who are unfamiliar with the term, can you explain to us the concept of NCLC in the simplest way? What are the similarities or differences between “low-code” and “no-code” approaches?
A: Firstly, it’s important to understand that these platforms have allowed business professionals to make application software in easier and simpler ways without the use of traditional computer programming. However, the main difference between the two comes down to a simple question: Who is being empowered?
For low code platforms, their mission is to make developers more productive. The developers are already writing code and producing software. Low code platforms aim at helping these developers write less code to achieve the same outcome.
In contrast, the no-code platform mission is to help anybody create software. This includes developers as well as a line of business professionals. By drastically reducing technology barriers, a person who would otherwise never write code can create sophisticated, secure and scalable business applications. No code platforms also enable developers to be a part of the digital innovation ecosystem by allowing them to apply their technical knowledge to integrate and automate in the no-code environment.
Q: What are some of the most common misconceptions about no-code/low-code that you would like to address?
A: One common misconception regarding no-code and low-code platforms is that there is little room for customization. However, these platforms leave an abundance of room for creativity and freedom for business professionals to build a solution for exactly what they need. These platforms allow users to find an exact solution for a specific and unique business need, in a timely manner.
Q: How does NCLC impact app development? In what ways can NCLC platforms help organizations design, develop, and deploy business applications?
A: No-code and low-code platforms have had numerous positive impacts on application development. At Quick Base, we pride ourselves on empowering the people closest to the work. We’ve been able to do this by simplifying the design and development processes so that any professional can take control of their workflow automation process. Additionally, our users are able to quickly share data between applications, while also being able to invite others to see and edit the data within.
Most importantly, NCLC tools reduce backlog for hardcore developers so they can focus on tasks that still involve code. There are many areas of technology, like big data processing, predictive analytics, IoT, and more, that NCLC tools do get into.
Q: The no-code/low-code movement has bolstered the concept of continuous delivery by producing reliable and valuable platforms that can be released and revamped at any point. As a trusted provider of app development software, how are you taking advantage of no-code/low-code solutions?
A: At Quick Base, we are our own customer. Our office is internally managed by Quick Base applications and every single one of our employees uses these applications. This has allowed us to experience first-hand the benefits of being able to create reliable applications that can be altered at any time and are highly scalable. It also enables us to maximize our productivity so that we can focus our time on being customer-obsessed.
Q: Tell us a bit more about your award-winning app building platform. How does your solution empower professional coders and developers to build their own custom applications to solve their unique business needs? Can you provide some sample use cases?
A: Quick Base users don’t have to be professional coders or developers. Anyone can use Quick Base to save time and focus on the work that matters. Quick Base frees up IT departments to focus on more critical business needs while enabling employees to build the apps they need to do their jobs better.
We have customers across all functions and industries and companies of all sizes. FedEx has Quick Base apps for facilities management, company testing, asset tracking, event tracking, safety, and many more. They have seen a $1.2M savings in just one Quick Base app they use to track and record machine installations.
One of my favorite use cases is with New Orleans 9-1-1, where Quick Base has helped emergency responders save lives. Since becoming a customer, New Orleans 9-1-1 has utilized Quick Base to improve scheduling and staffing, among other processes, while eliminating 90% of its paper processes. It has been able to simplify life-saving procedures, such as cell phone tracking and has allowed the organization to develop one-button access information that saves lives and resources. This example shows the powerful impact that Quick Base can have on our customers’ time management and those who depend on it.
Q: What is your advice for business users and software developers who have yet to tap NCLC solutions into their workflows?
A: No-code and low-code solutions are the future of workflow automation, so I would recommend starting to tap into these business-changing solutions as soon as possible. At Quick Base, we have made it easy to begin by creating our very own Quick Base University, allowing anyone to become certified to build improved applications. As these solutions continue to change the future of the workplace, it’s important that business users understand their importance.
What’s special about Quick Base is the diversity of who’s building applications on our platform. Our most recent annual customer survey shows 46% of our builders are women, compared to 24% for traditional application development. Furthermore, our builders are spread across all generations from millennials to Gen X’ers to baby boomers. And, since we appeal to folks that consider themselves workplace problem solvers, 73% of our builders reside outside IT in the line of business.
Q: Looking ahead, how do you think the NCLC movement will impact the future of DevOps?
A: Over time we continue to see a favor toward low-code and no-code platforms and I predict that trend will only continue to rise. Hand coding, while always a useful skill, will continue to fade as individuals and companies continue maximizing their time with platforms that are easily accessible and have the ability to be altered easily. As more people and companies become aware of the benefits found within low-code and no-code applications, more will continue to favor these uncomplicated and user-friendly options.
Q: As we move into 2019, how do you feel about where Quick Base is positioned in terms of technology and innovation? What does Quick Base have in store for 2019 and beyond?
A: We are growing! Last year we hired over 110 new employees, mainly in our Cambridge, MA headquarters. We recently opened up a new office in Salt Lake City, a really exciting milestone for us as we continue growing our company by expanding into new talent markets. And, we’re continuing to hire across all areas of the business.
2019 will be a huge breakout year for us. For the past couple of years, we have been making significant improvements to our core in memory database, builder experience, and mobile capability. We are about to put it all together to take NCLC to the next level.
About Quick Base
Quick Base is the leader in low-code app creation software. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Quick Base empowers businesses to streamline work processes and quickly build their own applications with no programming experience required. Quick Base specializes in low-code rapid application development, customizable business applications, digital transformation, citizen development, automated reporting, business process improvement, and more.